-A.S. The final group of 12 performers tonight. There are some characters, and some talent in this group. I’m not really looking forward to three nights of American Idol this week.

Tomorrow brings us the results show, and Thursday night is the wild card round in which the judges bring back three contestants. Those three will round out the top 12.

7:03 Von Smith is singing Marvin Gaye “You’re All I Need To Get By.” The bigger crime than this performance advancing him to the top 12 would be having to listen to him perform it again tomorrow. The judges liked it, but Von Smith lacks to soul to sing Marvin Gaye.

.7:24 Alex Wagner Trugman is such a dork, and the internet thinks so too. He Googled himself and decided to hit the gym. Tonight he’s singing “That’s Why They Call It The Blues” by Elton John. He sounded good, until he did that awkward shrieking thing. Twice. Make that three times, maybe even four. Paula: “you gave us our money’s worth. I just don’t know how much will be spent.” Kara agrees with me on the odd noises.
7:30 Seacrest just spiked a microphone, and told them to put it on his Am Ex. Hilarious.
7:35 Arianna Afsar is singing the first Abba song ever on American Idol. She’s singing “The Winner Takes It All.” Who let the cast of Mamma Mia in? NEXT!!!!!!
7:45 Ju’Not Joyner (below) is singing the Plain White T’s tonight. His infant son got him past the auditions, and he killed it in Hollywood. I like this guy, and I wish more than anything he wasn’t singing “Hey There Delilah.” I despise this song. He sounds good though, despite my hatred of the song. He took what the song gave him, and delivered a nice performance.7:57 Kristin McNamara is singing Tracy Chapman “Give Me One Reason.” I’ve liked her all along, and was surprised to judges put her to a sing off in Hollywood. She sounds great tonight. I like her voice a lot.
8:03 Nathaniel Marshall is singing Meatloaf “I Would Do Anything For Love.” This song brings me back to my childhood, oddly enough. He sounds good, but it made Simon uncomfortable. Singing about doing anything for love from the gay guy must have creeped him out. I don’t like Nathaniel’s drama, but he sounded great. Paula called it the Boy George version of the song.8:10 Seacrest is trying to get Nathaniel’s (below) headband on Simon. He wants nothing to do with it. Too funny.8:15 Felicia Barton is the comeback kid that came back before the wild card round. She got second life after Joanna was DQed for being a has been. She’s singing Alicia Keys “No One.” It’s hard to touch Alicia Keys’ vocals, and she’s almost there. Didn’t quite get the high note, but this might be good enough to get her through. The judges seem glad she’s back.
8:22 Scott MacIntyre has a great voice. He’s singing Bruce Hornsby “Mandolin Rain.” It’s almost a pitch perfect performance. The judges are all getting on the love train. I bet Simon rains on the parade a bit.
8:26 Scott initiated, and completed a successful high five with Seacrest. Amazing.
8:32 Failed attempt at comedy there guys. Randy trying to be Seacrest. Fail. There’s a reason he has 10 jobs, Randy.
8:33 I’m a big Kendall Beard fan. She’s singing Martina McBride “This One’s For the Girls.” Her looks probably got her this far, and I don’t know if a country song is going to take her any farther. She does have a good voice though. The audience participation clapping along was funny.
8:42 Jorge Nunez and his jheri curl is up now. He’s singing Elton John “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” It’s the better Elton John cover of the two from tonight, but he’ll face competition from Scott and Nathaniel. Simon to Paula: “You heart him, don’t you?”
8:47 Seacrest just went ocho cinco on our asses.
8:53 They saved the best for last the last two weeks. Tonight Lil Rounds is last. She’s been a favorite all along, and she is the best female from tonight. “I have a sneaking suspicion we’ll be seeing you around for some more Lil Rounds” –nice pun, Paula.